COPPER IRIS, Iris fulva (Ker Grawl.), and a General Overview of Irises Copper Iris is a Kentucky native, rhizomatous, perennial, monocot, herb-forb, wildflower endemic to southern/central United States (AL, AR, AZ, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, MO, MS, OH, TN, TX). Natural occurring native populations are found in wetlands in southwestern Kentucky called the Mississippi Embayment. It is listed as endangered but, due to modern horticultural practices, this species is readily/reasonably available which decreases its vulnerability to theft/poaching, habitat loss, farm/herbicides, and wetlands/swamps drainage/dredging. Iris fulva is one of the easiest irises to establish and maintain. It is 1 now found in private gardens and natural areas throughout the state. Copper irises are 18-36 inches tall with reports of heights reaching 5 feet. Stems may have 1-2 branches with several blade/sword-like green leaves 18-36 inches long and up to 1 inch wide. Basal leaves are present. New leaves are produced in the autumn and survive until summer – plants tend to be leafless around August. Shallow green/red/brown rhizomes have ring-like scars of old leaves. Numerous dense roots and clonal off- shoots arise from the rhizomes. Exposed rhizomes must be kept damp during the summer and hot spells. Copper iris blooms from April to June. 1-2 flowers develop in the axils and up to 6 flowers mat develop per stem. The slightly fragrant flowers are short lived (3-4 days), but plants bloom profusely for about 3-4 weeks. Copper iris flower colors can vary due to hybridization. Most commonly they are copper red (reddish orange to brownish orange) and tawny. Other shades include red, red orange, brown-orange, rust red, brick red, deep red, bronze and infrequently yellow or white. The slightly drooping crestless/beardless sepals (falls) and the spreading petals (standards) are the same colors. The flowers are 2-3 inches across and are flatter-topped and smaller than some other native irises. Plants produce both nectar and pollen which attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and moths. Six-sided seed capsules are 2-3 inches long and contain 10-20 dark, flat, irregular, 10-15 millimeter long, shaped seeds that are cork covered which allows them to float and establish new plants. Iris fulva (copper iris) prefers full/partial sun, moist, well drained, rich, clay, loamy soil that is slightly acidic – Ph 6.8-7.2. It is drought intolerant but tolerant of poor drainage and standing water up to 6 inches deep. It is listed as an OBL species – obligate wetland species. Iris fulva are adaptable to several habitats: fresh water, sloughs, swampy woods, cypress swamps, pine savannahs, roadside ditches, stream banks, wet pastures, and gardens. It is hardy in USDA zones 5-10. Its floral formula is K3C3A3G3 – fruit capsule. Copper iris (all irises) are closely related to orchids. They have similar floral formulae and irises can have one of their 3 petals be longer and lipped as the third petal of an orchid. (See attached photos) Copper iris is in the Iridaceae family named by British botanist/taxonomist John Lindley (1799-1865) while working on his project to improve the natural system of plant classification. This Family name is based on the Genus Iris coined by Linnaeus in 1753. The iris name is derived from the Greek word iris which translates to rainbow and “eye of heaven” – a name given to both eye color and the rainbow with its many colors. Iris was also a mythical Greek goddess and messenger for the Greek gods. She used the rainbow as a bridge between Heaven (the gods) and Earth (mankind). The legend of Iris was first written by the Greek poet Homer around 700 BC. The Greeks gave Iris her name as she was personified by the rainbow which displayed the many colors of irises. Linnaeus reportedly selected Iris as the genus name due to the brilliant rainbow colors equaling those of the irises. It is also speculated that he named the genus in honor of the goddess’ beauty and possibly to emphasize the brevity of the iris flowers which reflects man’s short life span. Plant family Iridaceae has approximately 80 genera of irises with 2200+ species worldwide and 70,000+ hybrids/cultivars. Kentucky has 5 genera with 14 species in Iridaceae. The genera are Belamcanda (L.) (blackberry lily), Crocus, Gladiolus (L.), Sisyrinchium (L.) (blue-eyed grass), and Iris (L.). The Iris genus in Kentucky has 6 native species: I. brevicaulis (rare); I. cristata (frequent); I. prismatica (threatened); I. verna (infrequent); I. virginica (infrequent); and I. fulva (endangered). There are also 2 European irises which have been naturalized: I. germanica (infrequent) and I. pseudacorus (infrequent). Two Kentucky 2 native irises Iris fulva (copper iris) and I. brevicaulis are listed as Louisiana irises – a group of 5 irises all native to southern Louisiana. They have hybridized to produce 43 known-named cultivars which display spectacular colors not seen in other iris groups. Copper iris (Iris fulva) was discovered in 1811 on the banks of the Mississippi River near New Orleans. A British botanist John Bellenden Ker Grawler (1765-1842) is credited with assigning the binomial name of Iris fulva to the copper iris. He was first to describe and publish this iris in the Botanical Magazine issue 36-1812. Fulva, the Latin species name means tawny orange, a color mixture of orange, brown, and yellow. Tawny is from an Anglo/French word taune, meaning tan or tannish. Copper iris is the most common name used. Other common names are rainbow flower, swamp iris, red iris, tawny iris, red- brown flag, copper flag, and poison flag. The word flag comes from the Middle English (1200-1400) word “flakken” meaning a flag and also to “flutter” in the wind. Flag initially was a general term for any reed or rush plant. Irises were later added as they too “flutter” in the wind and appear as actual flags waving. Infrequently irises are still referred to as flags – particularly those irises that are beardless and prefer wetland habitats as Iris fulva. All irises are listed as toxic/poisonous as they possess glycoside compounds as irisin, irone, iridin, irisine, resinoids, and pentacyclic toxicterpencids present in all iris parts with highest concentration in the rhizome. The severity/effects of these toxins depend on the amount and from which iris part was utilized/ingested. Severe poisonings are primarily seen in inquisitive dogs, cats, sheep, and cattle with younger animals being more prone to tragic results. Toxicity in animals is manifested by increased salivation, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, blisters/sores on and in muzzles/lips, and bleeding in stomach/intestines which can lead to death. Human poisonings and/or deaths are rare as plants deliver a powerful acrid, blistering, burning sensation sometimes greater than the capsicum in hot chili peppers! One bite usually stops further ingestion. Human toxic signs include skin blistering from dermal exposure, severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea leading to dehydration and excruciating abdominal pain. Treatment is symptomatic. Kentucky Poison Control has no reports of any deaths or serious poisonings from iris ingestion. Whether an iris can be used for culinary or medicinal purposes depends on the specific toxicity of the iris. The same compounds causing toxicity are often needed in medicinal or culinary usages. Past and present practitioners must have been or now must be extremely knowledgeable of which iris and/or dosage to select to achieve desired medicinal/culinary effects without poisoning the patient. Sometimes there is a fine line between poisoning and curing. For these reasons most medical authorities do not recommend any iris species medications be taken internally. It is not unusual for several iris species to have the same usage(s). Multiple iris species in the same vicinity/habitat can hybridize and are often used interchangeably. A web search for medical/culinary usages of copper irises was negative. But as these irises can share habitats and hybridize then it is surmised interchangeable usages did/do occur. Culinary uses of iris species are practically non-existent due to their scarcity (especially Iris fulva) and their toxicity. The only iris culinary usage reported involve two distinctively different cultures. The French people and Alaskan Eskimos once used roasted iris seeds to make a coffee type beverage. (A Starbuck’s shop probably stopped this practice!) Irises have a long history of medical applications. It was listed in America Pharmacopeia from 1820-1895 as a diuretic, laxative, purgative, and an emetic. Hundreds of usages by American Native groups/tribes are cited for iris species in Kentucky. The Cherokee and Algonquin people used the iris plants for treating 3 snake bites, stomach ailments, dropsy, urinary disorders, wounds, sores, ulcers, liver diseases, cathartic, and as a poultice. Iris roots were said to treat sunburn by using a potion called calamis – which is the forerunner of today’s calamine lotion! A rhizome concoction was taken internally for colds, fever, cholera, and earaches. The Chippewa/Ojibwa Indians used an iris as a snake repellant. When blueberry picking, they carried a piece of an iris plant and periodically handled it to increase its scent which was believed to repel snakes. Daniel E. Moerman (b. 1941), an American anthropologist/ethnobotanist in his book Native American Ethnobotany, cites irises as a panacea for almost any Native American complaint! Homeopaths use homeopathic concentrations from iris rhizomes to treat urinary retention, liver diseases, skin diseases, severe indigestion/abdominal pain, headaches with blurred vision, respiratory diseases, infections, sepsis, and to increase bile production. Minor complaints treated include cough, colds, diarrhea, minor wounds, acne, rashes, arthritis, and halitosis. Irises are also cited in veterinarian medicine intreating farm animals with liver/gall bladder diseases and as a laxative.